Ideas wanted!

What would YOU like to gain from local Section 106 (Development) Agreements? Let us know!

In the December 2010 edition of The Guide I described plans for a scheme whereby it is hoped to secure some funds from developers to be used in the local area and in ways requested by local people. These are known as ‘Planning Gains’.

Just to recap - when a large development is being planned, like the Thames Water/Waitrose scheme, it is normal for the Council to negotiate with the developer a legally binding agreement (in the jargon, a Section 106 Obligation) under which the developer agrees to provide cash for a variety of purposes.

These contributions, as they are called, come out of the developer’s profit so_,as you might imagine, the negotiations can be quite fraught. The sums of money can vary hugely: with large schemes anything from well into 6 figures down to a few hundred pounds. Some of these contributions are intended to help towards meeting the consequential costs which will,in time, fall on the tax-payer. A simple example is that it is now standard form for developers to make a contribution towards education costs if they are building ' family ' houses. The theory is that some, if not most, of the new residents will have school-age children. With the St. Catherine's development, Bewley Homes are tied in to providing substantial sums to upgrade and maintain, over a period of several years, the adjacent open space.

The New Proposal

The idea behind this is that developers can be persuaded to contribute relatively small, ADDITIONAL amounts for improvements in our area. There is no intention that the public will be able to negotiate directly with developers. Council employees (officers) would be doing this but - please note - these Officers will be expected to put forward ideas YOU have suggested. You may well ask will these Officers plead on our behalf with any sense of vigour. I don't know but it will probably be necessary to ask local Ward Councillors to chivvy and chase at times.

The Wish List

So let us have your ideas at the AGM or contact us by email at any other time. Preferably we should be thinking of improvements which are semi-permanent and with little if any maintenance costs. I am trying to avoid making suggestions myself but suppose we had an idea for some outdoor seating in Raynes Park Local Centre. That ought to be longer lasting than, say, flower-beds (however attractive) which of course require regular care and attention.

One suggestion made to me was that we could do with a Community Centre in West Barnes Ward. “I like the idea of having our own ' Village Hall' instead of all these sports pavilions"; a very good idea, but sadly most likely to be beyond the scope of this initiative.